Stepped zone lenses for wide-angle oculars



OR 3,298,771 7Q Jan. 17, 1967 T FF, JR 3,298,771

STEPPED ZONE LENSES FOR WIDE-ANGLE OCULARS Original Filed April 24, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet l T T" T 3'" INVENTOR Ma awi- Jan. 17, 1967 RATUFF, JR 3,298,771

STBPPED ZONE LENSES FOR WIDE-ANGLE OCULARS Onginal Filed April 24, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,298,771 STEPPED ZONE LENSES FOR WIDE-ANGLE OCULARS Harvey L. Ratlilf, Jr., Oxon Hill, MIL, assignor to Jetru Inc., Amarillo, Tex.

Original application Apr. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 275,411. Divided and this application Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 505,119

1 Claim. (Cl. 350-197) The present invention is a divisional application of my copending patent application 275,411, filed April 24, 1963. The present invention relates generally to lenses and particularly to lenses used in wide-angle oculars.

In the art of wide-angle stereoscopic recreation it is desirable that the images appear to originate at distances far behind the actual image viewed, since the image is relatively close to the eyes of the viewing observer. For the most relaxed .viewing, all the rays from the images should enter the eyes of the viewing observer as parallel rays.

It is the primary object of the present invention to teach a lens which will render all the rays (entering the eyes of an observer from 0 to over 70 in both directions-440 in all-) from a fiat image substantially parallel or parallel. The lenses of the prior art approach this objective,

but do not reach it satisfactorily.

Another object of the present invention is to teach a system of making the lens which assures that the primary object is achieved.

It is well'known that if an image portion is placed at the focal plane of a lens portion, the lens portion will render the rays from the image portion parallel. The wide angle oculars of the prior art which bend the peripheral rays to enter the eyes of a viewer at very wide angles require multielement oculars, either two concentric lenses in each ocular or a multiplicity of small diameter, small radius, contiguous lenses in each. The prior art does teach variable focal length lenses for spectacles, projecis a substantial difference in the distance from a central lens portion to a central image portion and the distance from a peripheral lens portion to a peripheral image portion as does the present invention.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent from a study of the following description taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

PIC}. 1 is a sectional view of the optical portion of a kinescopic optical viewing device showing a contemplated application of the lens of the present invention.

FIGS. 2-6 diagrammatically illustrate the structural make up of the lens of the present invention and some concepts involved therein.

FIGS. 7-9 are designed to diagrammatically illustrate the apparatus required to make the contemplated aspherical lenses of the present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings. Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 and 2. It is desired that all the rays leaving screen 36 from each point 215 enter the iris 217 as parallel rays to be focused by lens lL-L or lL-R upon retina 164 with a minimum amount of effort on the part of the iris 217, so that all the rays within cones FAG and F'A'G' may be viewed while iris 217 is in a relaxed position.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 and 4 in order to explain the contemplated aspherical shape of surface 219. Surface 219 is divided into any desirable number (n) of spherical portions AS, A8 A8 AS,, AS FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section of one form of surrespective spherical portion, are 0 0 0 face 219. The X dimension of each said spherical portion is AX, AX AX AX,, AX,, respectively. The Y dimension of each said spherical portion is AY, AY AY AY,, AY respectively. The radius of curvature of each respective spherical portion is R R R R,, R respectively. The distance below the central point of surface 219 on the axis of surface 219 of the center of curvature of each respective said spherical portion is Y Y Y Y Y respectively. The longest peripheral perpendicular distances of 'ice ' each said respective spherical portion from said axis of said surface 219 are X X X X X respectively. Obviously AX =X The angles at each respective center of curvature between said axis and the corresponding outer peripheral point (or circle) of each n-l: n respectively (see FIG. 4).

Reference is now made to FIG. 5. It is desirable that each of said spherical portions is of such dimension that any distortion produced upon the eye of a viewing observer because of the junction between any two juxtaposed portions (AS and AS,, for example having radii of curvature R,, and R respectively, having Y,, and Y respectively as the distances below the central point of surface 219 on the axis of said surface 219 to each respective center of curvature, said centers of curvature being AY,, apart), is beneath the resolving I power of the eye. It is considered that angle a (alpha) should be less than, or in very close proximity to one minute (1') in order to accomplish this. In the contemplated a form of the invention, the following is true:

Condition 1 The design is chosen such that the X increments are equal or':

X /n=AX=AX =AX =AX =AX Condition 2 of curvature of a lens portion will render the image rays parallel from a corresponding image portion. This ina herent relationship is expressible from the Lens Makers Equation for thin lenses:

where f is the distance from a lens spherical portion (i.e. AS to a corresponding image portion (i.e. AC of FIG. 6 which will be described in greater detail hereinafter) n is the refractive index of the lens, n is the refractive index of the surrounding media, r is the radius of curvature of the lens surface nearest the image portions and r is the radius of curvature of the other lens surface furthest from the image portions.

From elementary algebraic manipulation of the above thin lens equation, it follows that:

and

of course, if the lens is plano-convex, r"=oo, and:

It is, of course, clear herefrom that in the case of narrow angle oculars, f zf where f is the distance from AS,, to AC,, and f is the distance from AS to AC, but in the case of wide angle oculars: f f significantly.

It may therefore be seen that for the case of the arbitrarily chosen plano-convex lens:

n=fn("1 "2) and 1=f1("1 2) and for the arbitrarily chosen example set forth herein:

R =3.l(0.5) and R =2.6(0.5)

R 1.55 and R 1.3

Condition 3 From trigonometry it follows that:

=arc sin X /R 0 =arc sin X /R 0 =arc sin X /R Condition 4 It can be seen from FIG. 3 that:

X =0+AX X =X +AX 3= 2+ 2 n-1= n2+ n-2 n= n-1+ n 1 Condition 5 In the instant wide angle lens which has a focal length shorter than approximately 1% times the lens diameter, the central rays are rendered parallel when the central radius of curvature is 1.30 inch and the peripheral rays are rendered parallel when the peripheral radius of curvature is 1.55 inch; it may therefore be seen that:

R =R +AR 1= inch Condition 6 It may therefore be seen that:

Y1: 1.3 0 2 rl- 1 3 2+ z First resultant of the above conditions since a is very small.-It may be seen from the application of elementary trigonometry to FIG. 5 that:

n-11= n n Sec 11-10 therefore AY =(AR sec (arc sin X /R AY =-(AR sec (arc sin X /R AY =(AR see (are sin X /R AY =(AR sec (arc sin X /R AY =(AR see (are sin X ,/R,,)

Since AY is obviously the largest Y increment in the contemplated form of the invention, AY when m=l minute will now be calculated.

AY 0.00059 inch therefore AR =AY /(sec (arc sin X /R R =0.0003825 inch (Third Resultant) Because of (Condition 2):

n=(R R )/(AR,, )=0.25/0.0003825 n=654 (Fourth Resultant) Because of (Condition 1) and the fact that the arbitrarily chosen lens has a diameter of 2.36 inch:

AX=X /n=1.18/654 AX =0.001805 inch (Fifth Resultant) It may now be seen that in the contemplated form of the invention, every R increment is 0.0003825 inch; every X increment is 0.001805 inch and every Y increment is less than 0.00059 inch except AY,, which is 0.0059 inch.

It is here pointed out that the conditions could of course have been that all the Y increments are equal to each other, the R increments are equal to each other, and the X increments vary.

In order to more completely explain the function of aspherical surface 219 of lens LE(L or R), the left eye view segment of screen 36 is divided into n portion or increments AC, AC AC AC,, AC (see FIG. 6).

(2nd Resultant) Light rays which leave screen portion AC and pass through length of spherical portions AS,, and AS are designed to be exactly the distance from AC to AS and AC to AS respectively. Light rays which leave any other portion of screen 36 (for example AC and pass through pupil 217 of the left eye (for example) of a viewing observer are rendered almost exactly parallel by the corresponding spherical portion (for example A8 of aspherical surface 219. As pointed out :before, the distortion caused by the transition from one spherical portion to another is considered beneath the resolving power of the eye if an (alpha) is one minute or less.

-It will be noted that the arbitrarily chosen lens of the present disclosure is fashioned after the uniform focal length 7 9 mm. F.L. (i.e. 3.1 inch FL), 60 mm. diameter (i.e. 2.36 inch diam.) lens set forth in the parent application and the focal length of the peripheral portion AS is the same in both lenses and that the distance between AS,, and AC,, is the same for both lenses. In the case of the uniform focal length lens the rays from AC would enter the eye of a viewer as if the image distance were some 15.9 inches while in the case of the present as if the image distance were infinity).

Reference is now made to FIG. 7. In order to produce a lens having the above described aspherical surface 219 a grinding wheel 238 (of any abrasive material harder than glass such as corundum) must be formed which has peripheral surface 219'. Surface 219' is identical in cross section to surface 219.

'There is provided a drive means 236, such as an electric motor, for rotating the grinding wheel 238 about its axis, the driving being accomplished through grooved pulleys 237 and 241, drive belt 239, and spindle 240 (or any other well known means).

A diamond pointed arm 223 is pivotally mounted upon the member 228 for swinging about point 227. The crank 229 is used to locate point 227 with centering means 230-230 in the same plane (as viewed in the drawing) as the axis of the grinding wheel 238. Worm gear member 225 is held from translational motion, but is allowed to rotate. Worm gear member 224 is held from translational motion relative to member 228, but is allowed rotational motion relative to member 228. Member 228 cannot move vertically relative to member 235. Member described in the parent case, 275,411 before. The upper part of arm 223 may be made to rotate with member 224 by inserting pointed rod 221 into chamber or hole 222 with handle 220. Rod 221 slips freely in member 226 which is rigidly attached to cylindrical member 224. The lower part of arm 223 is allowed to pivot about 227 only in a plane parallel to the sheet of paper of FIG. 7. The upper member of arm 223 screws into the lower member of arm 223 so that the length of diamond pointed arm 223 may be varied from length R to length R This screw arrangement is of very precise quality so that distances as small as AR may be accurately measured.

In order to form surface 219' the upper member of arm 223 is screwed into the lower member of arm 223 until arm 223 is of length R between diamond point 234 and pivotal point 227. At this point grind stone 238 is rotated by drive means 236 through 237, 239, 241 and spindle 240 and member 235 is elevated until diamond point 234 just touches either edge of grind wheel 238. Now arm 223 is rotated about pivot point 227 until diamond point 234 makes the concave surface upon grind wheel 238 have a circular cross section with a radius of curvature equal to R At this point the worm gear arrangement including members 231, 232 and 233 is used to lower member 235 a distance equal to AY Now arm 223 is held vertically and pointed member 221 is inserted into hole 222 and worm gear member 224 is rotated by worm gear member 225 until the length of arm 223 is increased a distance equal to AR At this point the upper portion of arm 223 is held from rotation-a1 motion relative to the lower portion of arm 223 by any well known means such as a set screw. Now arm 221 is taken out of hole 222 and arm 223 is rotated back and forth about point 227 until diamond point 234 will grind no more. In a similar manner the following is done:

235 is lowered AY 223 is lengthened AR the desired grinding is accomplished 235 is lowered AY 223 is lengthened AR the desired grinding is accomplished 235 is lowered AY,,

223 is lengthened AR the desired grinding is accomplished 235 is lowered AY 223 is lengthened AR.

and the desired grinding is accomplished Of course it is expensive to place surface 219' upon grind wheel 238 in the above described manner. Therefore, it is desirable to find a cheaper manner of doing this. Reference is now made to FIG. 8. Point 249 is of a material which has about the same hardness as the material of grind wheel 238 (corundum for example). Point 243 is of a material (such as a diamond) which has a hardness much greater than that of wheel 242 (which can be of glass for example). Wheels 242 and 238 are aligned so that their left and right surfaces are in the same plane. They are both rotated in a manner obvious from FIG. 7. Rod 251 of square cross section is held from rotation about its horizontal and vertical axis, back ward and forward movement, and up and down movement by supporting means 245. However means 245 allows rod 251 to move translationally to the right or to the left. Rod 244 having points 243 and 249 is held by 251 from rotation about all three of its axis, and from any kind of translational motion relative to rod 251 except vertical translational motion. Springs 247 are at the point of greatest rest when rod 251 is half way between cylinders 246. Rod 244 may be moved past the left surfaces of 242 and 238 and past the right surfaces of 242 and 238. Surface 248 is ground by moving handle 250 back and forth so that rod 244 is to the right of the right surfaces of 242 and 238 and to the left of the left surfaces of 242 and 238 several times. It may now be seen that a cross section of ground surface 248 is identical (for practical purposes) to one of surface 219.

It may now be seen that if point 243 is made of a material which has the same hardness as the material of wheel 242 (such as glass for example), and point 249 is made of a material which has a hardness much greater than the material used in 238 (such as a diamond) a multiplicity of new surfaces 219' may be cheaply ground upon a corresponding multiplicity of new grind wheels 238 by the apparatus of FIG. 8.

With the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 9 aspherical surface 219 may now be ground upon lens LE(L or R). A means (such as the well known melted pitch) is provided to adhere LE-(L or R) to cylindrical table 253 which is rotated by spindle 254. Any well known means is provided to rotate spindle 254 and to give it controlled vertical translational motion. Therefore, grind wheel 238 is rotated by its spindle in any well known manner and unfinished lens LE(L or R) is rotated and moved upwardly by 253 and 254 until surface 219' forms the desired above described aspherical surface 219 upon a multiplicity of lenses LE(L and R).

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail in the drawings and foregoing description, they are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, as other modifications may readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art and Within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claim.

I claim:

A stepped zone lens for wide angle oculars being of refractive material with an index of refraction substantially greater than the surrounding media comprisingza first surface on one side thereof; a truncated Peripheral extremity being substantially symmetric about the optical axis of the lens; and a second stepped, convex, aspherical surface on the other side thereof, said second surface comprising: a finite multiplicity of finite incremental spherical portions with the respective radii of each having its origin on the optical axis of the lens and which form said second surface as one continuous surface that will intersect said first surface to form a circle in close proximity to said peripheral extremity,

.the respective central and peripheral incremental portions of said second surface being AS and AS the respective central and peripheral incremental portions of a substantially fiat object plane which is substantially perpendicular to said optical axis of said 7 lens and on the side of said second surface being AC and AC,, the radius of curvature of the central incremental portion of said second surface being R and:

where f is the distance from AS to AC, r" is the radius of curvature of said first surface, in is the refractive indexof the lens material and n is the refractive index of the surrounding media,

the radius of curvature of the peripheral incremental portion of said second surface being R and:

where f is the distance from AS,, to AC the maximum incremental distance between adjacent origins along said optical axis being AY and:

nl see (are sin the number of spherical portions within said second surface being n, and:'

Y n4 being the respective distance along the said optical axis to the plane of the corresponding AS from the respective origin of the corresponding 1. .114

Y being the respective distance along the said optical axis to the plane of the corresponding A5 from the respective origin of said corresponding 2 H X being the respective perpendicular distance from said optical axis to the corresponding AS]- 11-2! X being the respective perpendicular distance from said optical axis to the corresponding 2 11-1, and:

Where 2. n1, 1 n 2, 2. ..n-1 1 n-2 and X are respectively with regard to two corresponding adjacent portions of said lens, and:

where AX is approximately X n,

whereby all the rays from said fiat object plane enter the eyes of a viewer substantially parallel and no two rays enter said eyes diverging from each other at angles greater than approximately one minute.

References Citedby the Examiner R. J. STERN, Assistant Examiner. 

